Traffic Infrastructure Maintenance in Stockholm, Sweden

The challenge

The Municipality of Stockholm and Trafikverket (Swedish Transport Administration) are required, as public entities, to conduct formal procurement processes for service and maintenance contracts. Previously, the Municipality of Stockholm relied on its own service technicians for traffic solutions. However, maintaining and sustaining a modern and reliable traffic management system across the city required specialized expertise, structured organization, and rapid response capabilities.

The key challenge was to ensure the continuous operation, reliability, and performance of Stockholm’s existing traffic management system — including traffic signals, controllers, barriers, cameras, VMS, and software solutions. This meant responding quickly to faults, conducting regular inspections, and maintaining a high level of technical competence, all while guaranteeing minimal disruption to traffic flow in a major capital city.

The process

In 2010, SWARCO was selected as the service partner for the Municipality of Stockholm based on its expertise, organizational capability, and competitive pricing. SWARCO was responsible for service and maintenance between 2010 and 2015, and was again appointed from 2019 onward. For Trafikverket, SWARCO provides regular inspections and maintenance of traffic signals.

Monthly inspections are carried out to ensure that all systems operate correctly. Based on the collected data, SWARCO evaluates system performance and can recommend adjustments, upgrades, or the addition of new features and technologies. Maintenance activities are triggered either by inspection results, customer error reports, or reports from individuals.

When an error is reported, a technician is dispatched to the site to perform troubleshooting, carry out necessary repairs, and document the intervention. The target response time is to resolve issues within four hours. SWARCO acts as the primary service provider for traffic signals, controllers, and armature in Stockholm, and also services barriers, cameras, and variable message signs (VMS).

To ensure high service quality, SWARCO maintains a team of skilled technicians with diverse competencies. Newly employed technicians undergo 8 to 9 training courses within six months, including foundational education in electricity and safety. A 24/7 standby service ensures readiness to respond to unexpected incidents at any time.

The solution

SWARCO provides a comprehensive and structured maintenance framework that ensures the long-term sustainability and reliability of Stockholm’s traffic management infrastructure. Through regular inspections, rapid response times, skilled personnel, and continuous system evaluation, the city’s traffic systems remain operational and efficient.

The combination of preventive maintenance, real-time troubleshooting, and proactive system improvement guarantees minimal downtime and high availability of critical infrastructure. By delivering round-the-clock service and maintaining strong technical expertise, SWARCO supports the Municipality of Stockholm and Trafikverket in ensuring safe, efficient, and uninterrupted traffic operations across the city.